Paraphrasing is the process of rephrasing information from a source using your own words while keeping the original meaning. Being able to do this demonstrates your understanding of that original material. In academic writing, paraphrasing allows you to integrate the ideas of others into your own work. By paraphrasing you can avoid plagiarism, which is the act of using someone else's work without giving them proper credit. Paraphrasing is also important because it can help you to clarify and simplify complex ideas, which, depending on our audience, can be very important. This is a crucial, and often highly-sought-after skill in academic writing.
Niche Academy Video: Help with Paraphrasing (MySFCC login required to view)